It focuses on afghan archaeologist qadir temori and his struggle to save mes. Mes aynak contains the countrys largest copper deposit, as well as the remains of an ancient settlement with more than 400 buddha statues, stupas and a 40hectare monastery complex. The awardwinning documentary exposes a chinese companys plan to turn a 5,000 yearold archeological site in afghanistan into a copper mine, destroying priceless buddhist relics. Mes aynak contains afghanistan s largest copper deposit, as well as the remains of an ancient settlement with over 400 buddha statues, stupas and a 40 ha 100 acres monastery complex.
Mes aynak highlights afghanistans dilemma over protecting. Mes aynak would qualify as a world heritage site if the government of. Mining threat to ancient afghan monastery at mes aynak bbc news. A copy of the new minerals law is included on the cd. Since its publication in 1982, the archaeological gazetteer of afghanistan has become the main reference work for the archaeology of afghanistan, and the standard sites and monuments record for the region. Apr 24, 20 in 2007, the chinese stateowned china metallurgical group corporation m. Mes aynak, a magnificent buddhist city, is the most important archaeological discovery in a generation. A roadside bomb killed afghan archaeologist abdul wahab ferozi. How the historic buddhist has eluded destructionfor. Being an equally inspiring and unique place, experts on site believe that uncovering mes aynak. See more ideas about afghanistan, archaeological site and buddhist art. Recent excavations along the silk road by joanie meharry, vol.
May 23, 20 mes aynak highlights afghanistan s dilemma over protecting heritage this article is more than 6 years old quest for copper riches in mes aynak develops as battle between culture and commerce. The ruins of mes aynak straddle a copper deposit so rich that many of the rocks are brilliant green with oxidised ore from a seam of metal first exploited 5,000 years ago. Afghanistans buddhist buried treasure faces destruction. Preliminary results from sites 005 and 034, mes aynak. Published at occassion of the exhibition mes aynak recent discoveries along the silk road at national museum of afghanistan, kabul, 2011. From 20112012 he was the acting director of the afghan institute of archaeology, and general director of the mes aynak excavations. Mes aynak, 20 miles south of kabul, lies in a province that is still considered a major transit route for insurgents coming from pakistan. A member of the archaeological team working to save the rich cultural heritage of mes aynak.
In a barren region of afghanistans logar province, some 40 kilometers from kabul, lies one of the worlds most significant archeological excavationsthe remains of the ancient settlement of mes aynak, once a city on the fabled silk road network of trade routes that facilitated the exchange of cultures and spiritual traditions across the ancient world. But the project at mes aynak has been mired in delays since staterun china. The documentary saving mes a ynak premiered at the 2014 idf a film. Archaeologists are only beginning to find remnants of an older 5,000yearold bronze age site beneath the buddhist level, including an ancient copper smelter. Copper workings, smelting workshops, miners habitations, and a mint attest to the early importance of copper mining at mes aynak. Rumors of mining delay at mes aynak archaeology magazine. Jaroslav poncar a newly discovered stele from mes aynak, in afghanistan, reveals a depiction of a prince and monk. China to destroy ancient buddhist city to mine opper. Sep 4, 2018 buddhist archeological site afghanistan. Mes aynak contains afghanistans largest copper deposit, as well as the remains of an ancient settlement with over 400 buddha statues, stupas and a 40 ha monastery complex. Sustainable development of natural resources project. The copper, lying beneath the ruins of an ancient buddhist city, is one of the worlds largest untapped deposits.
Mes aynaks religious sites and copper deposits have been bound together for centuries mes means copper in the local dari language. A chinese threat to afghan buddhas the new york times. Mes aynak was also a key economic center in gandhara, a region spanning whats now eastern afghanistan and northwestern pakistan. Erasing the history of buddhist afghanistan one mine. A roadside bomb killed afghan archaeologist abdul wahab ferozi near the ancient buddhist archaeological site of mes aynak in afghanistans logar province, some 40 kilometers south of kabul. Mes aynak, a magnificent buddhist city, is the most important.
More than 4,000 relics have been recovered from the sites in the past nine years, the acting minister of information and culture, mohammad rasul bawari, said. Khair mohammed khairzada, general director of the mes aynak. Europe russia, north america, art and archaeology, books and. Mes aynak archaeological project world bank documents. Recent excavations along the silk road from popular archeology by joanie meharry, august 22, 2011 nearly ten years to the day since the taliban destroyed the national museum of afghanistans preislamic statues, the exhibition, mes aynak. In a barren region of afghanistan s logar province, some 40 kilometers from kabul, lies one of the worlds most significant archeological excavationsthe remains of the ancient settlement of mes aynak, once a city on the fabled silk road network of trade routes that facilitated the exchange of cultures and spiritual traditions across the ancient world. Mes aynak also called mis ainak or miseainak, is a site 40 km 25 mi southeast of kabul, afghanistan, located in a barren region of logar province. May 31, 20 mes aynak, a magnificent buddhist city, is the most important archaeological discovery in a generation. Recent excavations of the buddhist remains from mes aynak. Saving mes aynak is a 2014 independent documentary film, directed, produced, shot and edited by brent e. Photos of mes aynak relics go on display in kabul tolonews. Is time running out for the 5,000yearold mes aynak. Recent excavations of the buddhist remains from mes aynak, afghanistan. In the spring of 1963, a french geologist set out from kabul to carry out a survey in logar province in eastern afghanistan.
Though 90% of the site has yet to be excavated, it is threatened by a chinese. Subscribe for access to video teachings, monthly films, ebooks, and our 27year archive. In addition to mes aynaks vast complex of ancient buddhist monasteries, homes, and market areas, it contains artifacts recovered from the bronze age, and some. Willem vogelsang has been working, intermittently, in afghanistan since 1978, when he worked at the ancient site of old kandahar, in the south of the country, and which is also crowned by a buddhist stupa from the mid first millennium. Saving mes aynak follows afghan archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save a 5,000yearold archaeological site in afghanistan from imminent demolition. Archaeologist killed near buddhist archaeological site of. Mes aynak archaeological excavations, logar, afghanistan. There was no mention of it in a new york times story about a shocking and. Recent books include early metal mining and production, 2,000 years of.
New excavations in afghanistan by omara khan massoudi. Eventually, a wealthy and sprawling buddhist city grew in mes aynak, guarded by a. In a barren region of afghanistans logar province, some 40. In may 2012 i have travelled to afghanistan on an assignment for the czech edition of national geographic magazine. The story behind chinas longstalled mine in afghanistan. Gandhara was a civilizational crossroads, a place where the great religions of hinduism, buddhism, and zoroastrianism met and where ancient greek, persian, central asian. Company digging mine in afghanistan unearths 2,600year. Excavations at mes aynak copper well, afghanistan, a massive buddhist temple complex in danger of demolition due to us war, afghan desperation, and chinese greed science, vol. Sep 23, 2012 from popular archeology by joanie meharry, august 22, 2011 nearly ten years to the day since the taliban destroyed the national museum of afghanistans preislamic statues, the exhibition, mes aynak. Aynak is a place in afghanistan s logar province, about 30 km southsoutheast of kabul. Part i aynak information pakage british geological survey.
May 06, 2015 our awardwinning film saving mes aynak follows archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save this 5,000yearold buddhist archeological site in afghanistan from imminent demolition. Recent excavations along the silk road, opened at the museum. When afghanistan was under taliban control, mes aynak was the site of an elite al qaeda camp where four of the hijackers who took part in the 2001 attacks on new york city and washington, d. The faces of ancient local figures depicted in painted clay evoke a time when mes aynak was a crossroads of central asia. Artefacts such as a buddhist sculpture have been extracted from the mes aynak archaeology site where miners want to extract rich deposits of copper. The remains of the buddhist monasteries of mes aynak. An updated and revised edition of a classic text on the archaeology of afghanistan afghanistan is at the cultural crossroads of asia, where the great civilisations of mesopotamia and iran, south asia and central asia overlapped and sometimes conflicted. It was once a major city on the ancient silk road and is home to structures dating back more than 2,600 years. Mes aynak is a 9,800acre archeological site in afghanistans logar province.
Around 1,500 afghan police guard the mine site and the road. In 2007, the chinese stateowned china metallurgical group corporation m. Situated in volatile logar province, mes aynak is home to. The archaeological dig at mes aynak, an ancient buddhist city on the route of the silk road in afghanistan. Mes aynak, also called mis ainak or miseainak, is a site 40 km southeast of kabul, afghanistan, located in a barren region of logar province. The archaeology of afghanistan edinburgh university press books. Mes aynak highlights afghanistan s dilemma over protecting heritage this article is more than 6 years old quest for copper riches in mes aynak develops as battle between culture and commerce. The ministry of information and culture moic has started the third round of archeological excavations at mes aynak copper mine in logar province. Plans to openpit mine the ancient city of mes aynak in afghanistan have been put on. Mes aynak, a spectacular 2,000yearold buddhist city south of kabul, afghanistan, is facing total destruction. Media in category mes aynak the following 16 files are in this category, out of 16 total. Archaeologist killed near buddhist archaeological site of mes. May 02, 2019 since its publication in 1982, the archaeological gazetteer of afghanistan has become the main reference work for the archaeology of afghanistan, and the standard sites and monuments record for the region.
Chicago notforprofit documentary collective kartemquin films will release saving mes aynak free to the people of afghanistan. Aynak will be the subject of a public tender exercise and interested investors will be notified of the terms and conditions. Ferozi oversaw the restoration of more than 3,000 artifacts unearthed at mes aynak and which are now housed at the national museum in kabul. But it is sitting on a vast copper deposit and is about to be destroyed. Follow archaeologist qadir temori as he races against time to save a 5,000yearold archaeological site in afghanistan from demolition. The event held on march 15, 2011 in kabul was jointly comm. Rescuing afghanistans buddist history dafa at mes aynak. I have photographed excavation and rescue efforts at the worlds largest archaeological excavations site, located in mes aynak copper well area, logar province, afghanistan. The excavation is by far the most ambitious in afghanistans history. Chinese demands, rebels and buddhist ruins stall afghan. Dusan vranicassociated press in the spring of 1963, a french geologist set out from kabul to carry out a survey in logar province in eastern afghanistan. It was produced out of kartemquin films, the landmark chicagobased documentary house, along with producer zak piper. Recent excavations of the buddhist remains from mes aynak, afghanistan 11 december 2012 khair mohammed khairzada, general director of the mes aynak excavations, will talk about the spectacular finds at this huge archaeological site, which include stupas, statues, many wall paintings, five monastic complexes and a commercial centre. Mes aynak mine is said to be the second largest copper ore body in the world, with the deposit estimated to contain 5.
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